Insulated joint for railway-rails.



No. 879,878. PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908 K.KOHN.

INSULATED JOINT FOR RAILWAY RAILS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14.1905.

' 2 SHBBTS-SHEET l.

No. 879,878. PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

K.KOHN. v INSULATED mm? FOR RAILWAY RAILS.

APPL GATION FILED JUNE 14. 1906.

2 SHEETS-$111121? 2.

X I in I v i stand and utilize the same,

- lllll illilll i *1 mac w ,1. A vi -v- 1 r l a. ii. fhi icit. n

KOBY KOHN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOP. TO THE BAIL .lOlNl COMPAIIY, A. CORPQRAUEQN i ()F NEW YORK.

Application filed June 1 Io all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, liner Kenn, citizen of the United States, residing in the citv, county, and State of New fora, have invented. certain new and useful lrnprove' ments in insulated Joints for llailway-l tails, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in insulated joints for railway rails, and. has for its object to provide an improved andsiinplilied construction of such devices, and to these ends my invention consists in thevarious features of construction and arrangement of parts having the functions and adapted to'c-ooperste together to produce the results substantially as hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention in connection with which I will explain the principles tluareoi so as to enable those skilled in the art to underl 'gnre 1 is a vertical cross section of a rail and insulated joint therefor; Fig. 2 is a plan and part sectional view of the same Fig. 3 is a side view Fig. l is a perspective view of the channeled base sup ort; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of tie insulating strips or separators; Figs. 6 and 7 are side views of the oblique bolt; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view oi a modification.

While I have'illustratcnl and will now proceed to describe the preferred embodiment of my invention, and will show it as adapted to the 'well known T-rail, it will be understood that my invention is not limited to this particular use of the insulated joint, nor to the details of construction and arrangement of parts described, it being evident that these parts may be varied b v those skilled in the art to adapt them to be used in connection with various kinds of rails and in various positions and relations, without departing from the spirit of my invention. The various features described may be used in combination with each other, or with one another, or with other equivalent structures, the shape and characteristics of the various elements being varied according to the circumstances of each particular case.

In the drawings A, A represent adjacent ends of two rail sections, in this particular instance being shown as an eighty-pound Specifir tion of Letters .iPatent.

06. Sari-elite. 321L591.

,. com. p1 LS a llOill: c

in pro ved chant: prises two adapted to embrace bases oi? the re' li, in ztg. the opposite sides of t. webs oi the rails, and I will later the corresponon of the two parts the same, .i specifically describe one of the parts.

Each part of he channeled base support, one of which is best illustrated in Fig. 4, comprises a hose portion ll, which is adapted to extend to a greater or extent under the base 0; ol' the ll and extending from this base portion is a nook portion 15, forniing a connection between the base and the channeled portion proper. llhis channeled portion, as shown, comprises a thrust-- plate or portion B a brace portion B and a web portion B, the latter three being so shaped as to form an open vertical channel 13*. Also projecting from the base portion B and heel; B is an elevated spil e-rib, or extension These portions, which form the channeled hase support, may he made in any suitable way, as by rolling, casting, or otherwise, and they are provided with certain recesses, bolt-holes, etc, which may be formed in any well known way, and arranged. in proper position to receive the various bolts, washers, or other parts oi the rail joint. 1 have shown the thrust-plate B as provided with certain recesses b which are preferably niade in the manner indicated in the. drawing with rounded corners, and of a configuration ada 'ited to receive and lit the washers on the transverse bolts, as hereinafter described.

The brace portion B" is also provided with certain recesses Z) of a shape and configuration, preferably, such as shown in the drawing, to permit the passage of the transverse bolts and, preferably, these recesses are considerably larger than the bolts used, so that the bolts will not come in contact with the brace portion. This brace portion, as shown, comprises practically two parts, one a vertical bearing portion adaited to bear against the web of the rail, and the other an inclined connecting portion B which connects the upright portion with the web portion B. This inclined connecting portion is provided with openings 11 for the reception of the oblique bolts, hereinafter described, and in order to furnish a good bearing for the heads of the bolts, the lower inner, edge of the upright portion is cut away,

as shown. These openings for the bolts are preferably made of some other shape than round to receive the necks of the bolts,

hereinafter described, so as to prevent the desired relation for securing the base support to the ties. Arranged at either side of the rail sections are the insulating blocks, bars, or billets C,

- which may be of any suitable material, but

of the web-of therail.

preferably of wood. These bars are of a contour to substantially conform to the channel 13*, and also to the outline of the upper portion of the web of the rail and the under portion of the head of the rail, and are arranged sothat they are below the line of movement of the flan e of the wheel. The side bars are preferably grooved at c 0 pcsite the space between the adjacent en s of the rails to ermit the reception of an end post E, whic is larger than the cross section The side bars are also perforated, as at c, to receive the transverse bolts, and are also erforated, as at 0 to receive the oblique bo ts, and in orderto furnish a good bearing for the washers or fastening devices for said bolts, the bars are .cut away, at c.

interposed between the channeled base supports, and the base of the rail, and preferably a portion only of the web of the rail, are insulating strips, sheets, or separators .D, one of which is shown in perspective in Fig. 5. These separators may be made of any suit able insulating material such as indurated fiber or equivalent material, and may comprise the upright ortion d, which bears against a (portion of t e web of the rail, the top portion bearing upon the to of the base of the rail, and the base portion d, which.

extends under the base of the rail. These base portions may be of the same width in the two separators, but I have found it to be advantageous to make one of the base portions of greater width than the other, so that the wide ortion will extend past the middle line of t 1e base of the rail, and cover the space between the adjacent base portions B of the channeled base supports, as

best shown in. Fig. 1: v

The base portions and top portions of the separators are connected at their outer edges,

and 1 preferably make this connecting portion with two bends, d d and these are preferably of different radii, and the connecting portion between these bends preferably extends at an. oblique angle to the base portion d. The separator is also provided with suitablerehesses d to receive the transverse ad'acent parts of bolts, and these are preferably shaped as indicated, and are"preferably made larger than the diameter of the bolts so as not to come directly in contact with the surface of the bolts. The separator is also provided with arecess d to receive the insulated endpost E, and this recess preferably extends through the u right portion d, and some distance into tiie top portiond to prevent crushing. The separator is also, in the preferred form, cut away as. at d opposite the end-post in thebent portion uniting the base and top portions, and this opening also preferably extends for some distance into the top and'baseportions, to avoid the tendency to crush the insulating separator at this point.

' The insulating bars, which, as I have' before stated, are made to conform to the oblique bolts F, which extend through openings as 5 in the inclined connecting portions and through openi s c in the side bars, and

are secured therein y suitable washers and nuts bearing upon the cut away ortions 0 These oblique bolts are prefera 1 formed with necks f of some contour ot er -than.

rou d, as, for instance, oval or angular,

ada ted-to fit the openings b and therebyprevent the bolts turning in said openings.

he bolts are .also provided with oblique heads f to fitthe inclined under surface of the brace portion of the channeled base support. The outer contour of these heads is preferably angular in shape, so as to ractica-lly fillthe space between the incline face of the brace portion of the channeled base support and the insulating separator, ad'a cent the junction of the web and base of t .e rail. In the present instance, I have shown the bolts with metal washers and nuts f,

upon theouter ends of the oblique bolts, but any well'known form of lock nuts or other fastening devices may be used.

The washers f ma' be omitted, as the arrangement is such t at the nut or washer will bear upon the upper end of the "thrustplate 13", and cut away portion'c", and this thrustlate is preferably'inclined; as shownin'the rawing', to form a good bearing therefor.

The two opposing parts of the insulating joint are held in position on opposite sides of the rail in any suitable way, and 1n the resent instance, I have shown transverse olts- G, which are arranged to pass through the openings 0 of the bars, and through openin s in-the web of the rail, and I provide suitab e insulating and other Washers between the.

heads 9 and nuts {1' of the bolts, and" the t e joint. ariou's arrangements of washers may be used, but'in the present instance I have shown Washers of insulating material, and these are of a thickness to extend outward more or less beyond the outer surface of the thrust portions 13 of the channeled base supports, and these washers are preferably of n shape to substantially conform to the recesses in the thrust-plate. Outside of these insu lated Washers, l have shown metal washers g and it is evident that any desire l number of Washers may be used, or any lock-nut fastening devices may be applied to the bolts in at manner well understood by those skilled in the art.

In Fig, 8, l have indicated one modifiestion of my invention, wherein thec orresponding ports are similarly lettered, and wl'iercin there are some changes in the details of coii struct-ion, notably in the formation of the channeled base supports. in this construotion, the spil crib or extension I is extended outward to a greater extent than in the other construction, and has a portion lhereof, preferably on extended central portion, turned upward to form the thrust-platc or portion B of the base support. In this modification, also, one of the separators has its base portion (7 extended so :is to practically cover the space between the buses B of the channeled base supports, instead of extending this base portion of the separator beyond this base, as shown in Fig. 1. Also, in this iuodili ution, the oblique bolts F are placed in different relation to the trnusv c )olts from that shown in Figs. 1, '2 and .5, being near the ends of the insulated bars, and beyond the transverse bolts, and hence. in this construction, the washers or nuts of the oblique bolts do not bear against the thrustportion of the channeled base as in the other form.

Having thus specifically described the general features of ciuistruction of the various parts of my insulated rail joint, the mode of assembling the ports and the purposes ol" the various constructions will be largely understood from what has been heretofore stated, bu t 1 Will point out brielly some of the distinguishing features and results produced by these various constructimis.

It Will beobserved that tho channeled base supports are complete in tllon'isclves, and are adapted not only to engage the top and bottom portions of the bases of the rails, but that the brace portions cxtond upward. -(ind form supports tending; to resist the lotoral thrust of the rails at their adjacent ends. Moreover it will be noticed that in the preferred construction, these brace port ions :irosliown as extending about half way up the Web portions of the rails, and they are provided with openings 7)", which are preferably larger than the bolls so that there no necessity of using insulation around the bolts, and this also prevents the tendency to crush the inulsti it this point, when due to (weeping oownwsrc move-- merit of rails.

in fits into the open vc'r and secured therein. by u. bolts, Mid tl: us put together rind. adjusted before ports of the channeled brim supp riv are noplied to the rails. Vibe/11 so adjusted and placed. in oosition, it u'i l he observed ll'iut YB not only tends to hold the insulated bar in position {Against the Webs of the rails and resist any lelorel thru but also holds it against the under portion of the head oi the rail, and too o tulle up any downward or inclined thrust om the in d oi the rail.

in the not use of lilb'ill'oi d joints. it has been obsori the insulation is liable to be injured or desiro ed. within it relatively short time; owing to the strains put thereon, and the result has been that sooner or later the per eci insulation of the rails is destroyed and leeks occur which prevent the ell'icient operation of tho electrical devices controlled bythe currents pzissiuu' through the rails. it one oi .llic objects of my present invenlion to provide insulation that not subject to these disndvozii'ugos. it will be observed (but my iusulni'i. g separators extend only partially upwards on the sides of the web, and are not in contact with the irzuisverso bolts, and tlicr-olbro ore not subject to pres sure or strain ironi said bolts. Moreover, it will be soon. that the insulation is not subject to thrush; or niovcn'icnl. of the under portions of lhe bonds ol' the rails. especially at or near the adjacent ends of the two rails, where more or loss relative movement always occurs, and which has :i tendency to crush or destroy the insulation ei. those points. So

sleeves surrounding the bolts :uul extending through openings of any kind or l l)0.l1li .1f$ in the webs of the rails, the some action is likely to occur to the detriment of the insulation. Furtliornwrc, one oi the weak points of the insulation is at or near the junction of the web and base oi the rail, and by the peculiai loi'uuition of the brace portions, there is no actual pressure or hearing: at this pointnnd this avoids a tendency of the insulation to brozlt or disintegrate along this linc'," and especially so adjacent the ends of the rails. Again, in applying the insulating strips or sepnriitors to the rails and then. tightening up the base supports, the insulation is liable to be broken or injured adjacent the outer edges of the base of the rails, and by the pe culiur formation. of these scpuri'itors lit this point, and having two bends preferably of dill'crout radii and an inclined portion be tween these two bonds, ll provide :i structure which peri the {)lllfililfl of the separators in position, and ti htening the joint too, when there all insulating tluinbles or 1 use insulating washers 4 not to expose it to to provide for any cent ends of the rails, as these have been found to be liable to be. broken or crushed by the relative movements of the ends of the rails, and for this reason I have provided means for making the neck or web portion of these end-posts wider than the webs of the rails, and allow them to project into recesses in the insulating bars and into or through the recesses in the insulating separators; and this efiectually prevents breakage or destruction of the end-posts and maintains efiicient insulation between the rails atthis point. V

Another disadvantage due to the use of separators which extend upward practically to the top or through parts of t e joint is due to the fact that the insulators absorb more or less moisture which causes them to disintegrate or to reduce their efficiency as electrical insulators. It will be observed that in my construction the separators, while they may extend upward to a greater or less extent alon side of the webs of the rails, do not extend to the top of the bars, put are protected from the elements by said ars.

It will further be observed that b securingthe insulating bars in the channe s of the channeled base supports by oblique bolts arranged in the manner shown, there. is no danger of these bolts or their nuts coming in line with the flanges of the wheels, even if,

erchance, the nuts or bolts should become oosened, as they are arranged at such an angle that even under the most adverse circumstances, the nut cannot come within the line of movement of the wheel flan es.

I have before stated that I pre erred to 9 in connection with the transverse bolts, and that these washers were of a thickness to extend outward beyond the outer faces of the thrust-plates or portions of the base supports. The advantage of this arran ement 18 that when, for in stance, the meta lic washers, as g, sli or becorrie displaced, they are prevented rom comingin contact with the metal of the thrust-plate, for if they should slip down, they would be held away from sai thrustplate by the inter osed. insulated washers. lhis construction 0 viates the use ofsleeves or thimbles of insulating material upon the bolts, which, as before intimated, are open to ob'ections. Further, it will be observed that the insulating material is so arranged as the action of the various parts where there is a tendency to cut or crush the same, due to the movements of the parts in actual use.

It will be noted that the bottom surface of the separators,

the elevated spike-rib or extension is in a plane above the bottom surface of the base of the support, and the object of this is to prevent any tilting tendency, resulting iroin the base embedding itself more or less in the tie.

What I claim'is,

1. In an insulated rail joint, a channeled base support having an open vertical channel to receive the connecting bars and insulatmg means.

2. In an insulated rail joint, a channeled base support provided with two'upwardiy extendingportions providing a vertical chan nel between them-and insulating means.

.3. In an insulated rail joint, 22. oi'ianncled base sup ort provided with an upwardly cxtending race portion "and thrust portion forming a vertical channel between. them and insulating means.

4. In an insulated rail joint, a channeled base support having a brace portion, a thrust ortion, and an inter osed web portion formmg a vertical channrii and insuiating means. 5. In an insulated rail joint, a channeled base support having an upwardiy extending thrust portion, a brace portion, a web portion, and an inclined connecting portion between the web ortion and brace portion,

forming a vertica channel between them and insulating means.

6. In an insulated rail joint, a channeled base support having an upwardly extending thrust portion provided with recesses in its edge, an upwardly extending brace portion provided with recesses in its edge, a web ortion, and inclined connecting portion, the atter being provided with openings and insulating means.

7. In an insulated rail, joint, a channeied base support comprising a base oortion, a neck portion, an upwardly extending brace portion, a thrust portion, and a web portirai connecting the brace and thrust portions and insulating means.

8. In an insulated rail joint, a channeled base support comprising a base portion, a neck portion, an upwardly extending brace portion, a thrust portion, a web p0 meeting the brace and thrust portion inclined connecting portion betwr a portion and the brace portion and 1 means.

9. In an insulated rail joint t tion with a channeled base s open vertical channel, of a spli in said channel andinsulating me 1,0. In an insulated rail joint,

nation witha channeled base support i ving an open vertical channei, ot a splice bar mount-ed in said channel, and obiiq w a: s'rssse ii col nesting" Web forming an en'nsl, of a splice be; "mo-info cl sud insulating means.

i In an insulated rail joint, the combination wirh a channeled base support som prism; a brace portion, s thrust portion. s we portion and an in ed connecting ooraiou bciween the web on d brace portions and forming :1 vertical open channel, or s splice bar mouuirrl be channel, and oblique bolts iriouufcrl in the inclined connecting portion sud ezrtendiiig through the splice insulating; means.

' 1T1 insulated rail joint, the corn ,i-

l n e channeled bsse support, one of of the channel being inclined, of s mounted in the channel, and

his Willi-S splice bill oblique bolts lowing angular displaced heads "fitting ssicl inclined portion and extending through the splice bar and insulating means.

14'. in an insulated rail joint, the combination wire a channeled base support, one of the wells of the clieiuiol being inclined and provided W' i h openings other than round, or" a splice bar mourned in the channel, and oblique bolts provided with necks corresponding to the opeu' iii the iii.(lined poo ties and inclined reds and extending through the splice bur rid lnsulelving means.

15 111 an insulated mil joint, the combination wish & chfifll lcll'l'll support having a brace portion, rib r portion provided with an inclined b por aion, and an inclined porlioii connecting the web and brass portions, oi". as splice bar mounted in th" elf cubov: y porvioris, I ll. 1 H'ir d or-- l l'u'oiigli 1, 01, said on, of

l me a? bolls Ir l 4, an insulated rail joist, the combi action with the rails, of two complementary channeled base supports liaising open VGI't-l. eel channels, e bars mounted in said channels, oblique bolts for securing he splice bars in their Cl'lflDHGlS, and transverse bolts extending webs be for securing rile ports together end insulating I! s.

*usumied roll jointsuppert, en

1r loses v )1 comprising s besepor- Lion, l. u, and connecting portion .ileted. rsii loam, support,

. win 1 u ink-mod tlirr'igli die splice ba and the 21. In so insulated rail jointsupport, e11- insuletirig separator comprising base and to? iortions, m d connecting portion provided with so opening cc or near its center.

22. in an insulated rail joint suppori'z, insulating separator comprising e bose'porcioii, a cop portion, end upright'portioir, the latter being provided with recesses in its upper edge, end central recess extending through the upright portion.

23. in ell-insulated rail joint, the combi nation with the rails, of two insulating sepsretors adopted to einbrsce opposite portions of the base of the rail, and each comprising e base portion and a top portion, the base por tion of one of the separators being of greater width than the base portion of the other sepsrstor.

In an insulated rsil joint, the combination with. the rails, of two insulating sepe rotors sdspted to embrace opposite portions of the base of the rail, and two base supports having bssc portions extending inward below the bottom of the rail, the base portion of one of the insulating supports being extendto cover the space between the base por- Lions o'l' the base supports.

iii in an insulated rail joint, the coiribination with the rails, of two insulating sepo rotors adopted to embrace opposite POI'EiOi'lS oi the bsses of the rails, and two base supports herring besc portions extending inward below the bozlcins of the rails, the portion of one of the separators being e" 1 ended and beyond the space between b one base portions of rho bsse supports.

26. in en insu sted iuil joint, {be combinsiion \fl'Lll the r ils, of two insulating sepsrzitors bowing" u iiiglilv porrions adjacent the webs of Lbs rails, top and. bottom portvious corresponding to the bases of the rolls, suck two base supports each having a brace poi-Lieu bearing against the upright portion of the separator and top and base perilous to embrace llllfibOtlJOlll of the rails, the uprights of the separators and base supports extendapproximately to the vertical center of the webs of the rails.

27. in. an insulated rail joint, the combi nation with the rails, of the insulating separators loving upriglic portions, the base supports also having upri lit portions, the 1 opened channels and having brace portions sulated splice bars mounted insaid channeled supports, transverse'bolts for securing the parts to the rails, said bolts being provided nation with the rails, of insulating separarails, and means for securing the same to the the thrust-plates and exten ing beyond the .iouter surfaces of the thrust-plates, and metal- ;hc Washers outside of the insulated Washers. 1

28. In an insulated rail joint, the combination with the rails, of insulating separators, channeled base supports having open. vertical channels, insulating splice bars mounted in said channels, means for securing the splice bars to the channeled supports, and means for securing the parts to the rails.

29. In an insulated rail joint, the combiand thrust portions, the insulated splice bars mounted in said channels, the splice bars bearing against a portion of the webs of the rails and theunder side of the heads of the 31. In an insulated rail joint, the combination with the rails, of the insulating separators, the channeled base supports having thrust portions provided with recesses, in-

with insulated washers fittin the recesses in 32. In an insulated rail joint, thev combination with the rails, of insulating splice bars secured to the sides of therails and havin recesses adjacent the ends of the rails, an

an insulating end-post interposed between the ends of the rails and extending beyond the Webs of the rails into the" grooves of the splice bars. j i

33; In an insulated rail joint, the combination with the rails, of insulating separators having recesses ad 'ac'ent the ends of the rails,

insulating splice ars also having recesses adjacent the ends of the rails, and an insulated end-post interposed between the ends of the'rails and extending into the recesses in the separators and splice bars.

, 34. In an insulated rail joint, the combination with the rails, of insulating se'parators having upright, top and bottom base portions; the base portion of one being of greater-width than the other, channeled base supports having" brace, thrust and web portions and an inchned connecting portion between the web and braceportions, lnsuiating splice bars fittingv the channeled base su ports, and bearing against aportionof t e webs of the rails and' the under portion ofthe' heads ofthe'rails, oblhtu e bolts for securing the splicebars to the ase supports, transverse bolts securing the arts-tothe iragilsfin sulating washers on sai bolts, and metallic washers outside'of said-insulating washers,

In testimony whereof I aflix. my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

*KoBr oiini Witnesses:

' H. M. STnnL'me, I

G P. Ka una] 

